3 With an electric mixer on high, beat butter until light and fluffy; add vanilla and beat again for five seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl, and then sift the dry mixture into the bowl with the butter and vanilla. Mix on low for about 1 minute, or until a soft dough forms; shape into a ball.

4 Transfer the ball of dough to a large piece of parchment; flatten into a disc and cover with another large piece of parchment. Roll dough out into a large rectangle with a ½cm thickness (1/5 inch) and cut into 2.5cm x 5cm (1 x 2 inch) rectangles. Prick the rectangles several times with a fork and transfer to the prepared baking sheets; place in the freezer.

5 Remove one of the baking sheets from the freezer after 20 minutes and place in the preheated oven; bake for 18-20 minutes

6 Cool completely on a wire rack. Meanwhile, bake the other batch of cookies.

7 When cookies are cool, melt chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between heating. When the chocolate is almost completely melted, remove from microwave and stir until smooth.

8 Dip the cookies in the melted chocolate and then place on a parchment-lined surface (or back on the parchment-lined baking sheets). Alternately, drizzle cookies with chocolate as desired.

9 Let the cookies rest in a cool spot until chocolate has set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Gift Guides

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

Gift Guides

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

Satisfy even the most discerning epicureans on your list with one of these fashionable foodie-approved finds.

We all have that person in our life who can prepare an intricate meal without so much as glancing at a recipe. That person who dabbles in all things culinary related on a daily basis and has a kitchen pantry that rivals that of celebrity chef Mark McEwan (or it at least comes close). Not sure what to treat them to this holiday season? Browse through our list of food-related gift ideas for inspiration.

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14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

1 Juiced Up

A heart-smart treat for the health food aficionado in your life, this carefully curated six-pack of cold-pressed juices contains almost two pounds of fruit and veg in every bottle! Cold-pressed Juices, Dose Juice, $42 per 6-piece pack.

By: Style at Home
Source: Dose Juice

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

2 Cheese, Please

Nothing says holiday time quite like a good cheese board. The lace-motif detailing on this one will certainly make any selection of cheeses and chutneys shine. Ceramic Lacework Cheeseboard, Anthropologie, $38 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Anthropologie

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

3 Copper Feel

This elegant Art Deco-style coffee dripper is for your friend who has one foot planted firmly at home and the other off in some distant Parisian patisserie. Hario stainless copper Coffee Dripper, Indigo, $100.

By: Style at Home
Source: Indigo

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

4 Caffeine Fix

If the Bat Cave had a coffee maker, this would be it. Nespresso’s latest boasts a matte black finish befitting anyone in need of a caffeine jolt before saving Gotham City. VertuoLine Coffee Machine in Matte Black, Nespresso, $249.

By: Style at Home
Source: Nespresso

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

5 Colonel Mustard

This high-ranking mustard deserves your salute. Flavoured with decadent wine and truffles – and only available for a limited time – it’s a covetable condiment fit for any top official. Black Truffle and Chablis Mustard, Maille, $43 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Maille

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

6 Into The Wild

These striking mugs echo exotic corners of the earth that yield top-notch coffee, from Sumatra to Costa Rica. Pair a mug with beans from the same region for a gift guaranteed to please any java junkie. Stamp Art Mugs, Starbucks, $19 each.

By: Style at Home
Source: Starbucks

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

7 Chic Sips

These pretty, precious and feminine flasks are almost too stylish to sully with alcohol – but everyone has a friend who would! Stainless steel Odeme Flasks, 90 ml,West Elm, $29 US each.

By: Style at Home
Source: West Elm

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

8 Style Strain

This vintage-look colander is a timeless classic that takes an everyday kitchen tool from dull to display-worthy. Copper-plated steel Colander in Gold, Anthropologie, $34 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Anthropologie

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

9 French Kiss

This Scandi-chic French press in pale pink (with a pretty copper detail) is not only a beautiful vessel for your morning brew, but also an ideal addition to any open shelf. Ceramic French Press in Sand, Yield Design Co., $120 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Yield Design Co.

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

10 Grill on the Go

No one should ever find themselves camping or picnicking without freshly grilled meat close at hand. And thanks to this portable grill, your loved ones will never have to. Wild & Wolf Portable Barbecue, Shop AGO, $94.

By: Style at Home
Source: Shop AGO

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

11 Get Jelly With It

Treat fans of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to “the gift that keeps on giving.” Translation: their very own Jelly of the Month Club gift set! (Reference lost on you? See here.) Griswold Jelly of the Month Club Gift Set, Retro Festive, $40.

By: Style at Home
Source: Retro Festive

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

12 Cured Chocolate

It may resemble salami, but this treat is made entirely out of chocolate. Containing hazelnuts, almonds, cherries and even rum, the confection is a certified crowd-pleaser – especially when presented on a cutting board. Chocolate salami, SOMA Chocolatemaker, $23.

By: Style at Home
Source: SOMA Chocolatemaker

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

13 Main Squeeze

Count on Alessi to make a conventional utensil undeniably sleek. Crafted from stainless steel and boasting a unique shape, the modern citrus squeezer also doubles as a pestle. Valerio Citrus Squeezer, Alessi, $71.

By: Style at Home
Source: Alessi

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

14 Spread the Love

Building a beautiful cheese platter is something of an art form, but it helps to have stylish spreaders to complement the nibbles. This gorgeous set with rose quartz handles will make any table sparkle. Rose Quartz Spreaders, HomeSense, $15 4-piece set.

5 ways to stick to your holiday budget

Organizing Ideas

5 ways to stick to your holiday budget

The Smart Cookies teach you how to create (and stick to!) a holiday budget.

The Smart Cookies are five young women that are savvy about spending - they know when to save and when to splurge. And when it comes to the holidays, these ladies know how to save without being Scrooge. So we asked The Cookies to cook up some ideas for how to ensure that this year the 12 days of Christmas don't turn into a $1200 debt, and here's what they shared.

1 Swear to a spending plan (and stay on track)
The Smart Cookies always build a monthly budget - and stick to it! So, when it comes to the holidays, they're duly diligent. "There's so much prep work involved with getting ready for the holidays, it's easy to get carried away," warn The Cookies. "Don't get lost in all the mayhem!" The best way to monitor the mayhem? The Cookies advise to set-up spending alerts, such as payment-due reminders and account-balance updates.

They also say to consider everything - from travel to gifts, to décor to ribbons and wrap, right down to the stamps on greeting and thank you cards. "We love the site moneystrands.com because it is a free online budgeting tool that allows you to create a budget within minutes that will automatically link with your various accounts and cards. It even updates your budget categories automatically as you spend!"

2 DIY with LoveDo-it-yourself gifts are no longer limited to arts and crafts given from children to parents. With craft havens and scrapbook superstores everywhere, you can create a gorgeous gift that's unique, thoughtful and personal, not to mention easy on the budget!

Here are a few ideas for the holidays that get a Smart Cookie stamp of approval:

The gift of art If your children are pint-size Picassos, frame some of their artwork for family members. You could also use the art to customize a coffee mug for year-round art appreciation.

The gift of memories Create an online scrapbook or professional album for family and friends. You could choose a particular theme (dig up some old university photos for your old college roommate; compile photos from the last ten years of your uncle's annual parties; or collect images from your niece's baby shower). The Smart Cookies recommend snapfish.com, but scrapblog.com is another great site for digital scrapbooking.

The gift of food Drum up the recipe for a favourite dish and fill a mason jar, old tin or wicker basket with the ingredients (The Cookies are partial to cookie recipes of course!). Print the recipe neatly - handwritten or typed on the computer - on thick cardstock. Customize it with your monogram or a note "from the kitchen of" - and, to make the recipe last years to come (not to mention, spill proof), laminate it.

3 Shop on the web
"Shopping online is a great way to save time, money and your sanity this season," say The Cookies. In addition to being able to easily shop for promotions and sales, many shops offer shipping discounts - futureshop.com, for example, offers free shipping for orders over $39. Indigo also offers free shipping over $25, and books are 30% less online than in stores. Go to freeshippingcanada.com for an exhaustive list of similar promotions.

Also, use social media for more than just holiday wishes - use it for holiday shopping, too. Follow your favourite stores on Facebook and Twitter, The Cookies recommend. "Many offer coupons and discount codes exclusively through their social media campaigns." It's the best way to stay on top of the sales - and save, save, save!

4 Know the smartest way to pay
"When you're shopping, timing is everything," say the Cookies. Know the anticipated spending trends and time accordingly. "This year, due to the economy, experts are suggesting consumers wait as long as possible to make their purchases. Stores will be less likely to move inventory. "Sellers will start to panic and, as a result, prices will drop," they add.

Many stores, like Sears and Future Shop, have price protection policies, meaning that if the price of an item drops, you can recoup the difference. The Cookies recommend watching the price of a gift for up to fourteen days post-purchase.

Instead of paying with cash or debit, The Smart Cookies pay with credit cards - especially ones that let you earn rewards on your spending. Pay off the balance early and build your credit as a gift to yourself.

5 Save on the wrapping
When we budget for gifts, we don't often account for the price of wrapping paper, the ribbons and bows, accent pieces and cards - it can all easily add another $10 to your gift. And though we agree, presentation is important, The Smart Cookies say that you can wrap wonderfully without making your wallet suffer. Use packing paper instead of wrapping paper, say The Cookies. Large rolls cost as little at $2 and you can bedazzle them yourself with raffia and a sprig of holly or stencils and craft paint. Save on card costs by reusing the front of old Christmas cards - simply cut out the design and glue it to a blank card from a craft store - just make sure the card you're reusing doesn't say something like "best wishes in 2002!"

Buying guide: The truth about thread count

Buying Guides

Buying guide: The truth about thread count

Is there anything better than sliding into a bed laden with good quality sheets? At the end of the day, I can't wait to stretch out under my fresh, soft covers and nestle my face into a good cotton-covered pillow. We spend a third of our lives in bed so quality sheets are key, but how do you get quality for your money? There's no doubt that most consumers believe the higher the thread count, the better the quality, but this isn't entirely true. With the help and expertise of Joanna Goodman, owner of Au Lit Fine Linens, we expose the truth about thread count and what it takes to find quality bed sheets.

What is thread count, really?Simply put, thread count is the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric. This number is based on the threads woven horizontally ("weft") and vertically ("warp"). Extra threads can also be woven into the weft threads to increase the thread count. These added threads are called "picks" and are added in the overall count, which is how some sheets end up having thread counts in the thousands. This is why the idea that high counts equal better quality isn't really accurate. Consider this: Joanna says most weavers will say the maximum number of threads that can be woven into one square inch of fabric is 500 to 600. Though the number is arguable and, according to Joanna, "depends on the mill you deal with," it gives you an idea of where the line is between single-ply, unpicked weaves and ones that add threads here and there to bump up the count.

What to look for when buying sheetsJoanna lists three things to look for on the label: if it's Egyptian cotton, where it's woven and, lastly, the thread count. While thread count is a bit misunderstood, the buzz around Egyptian cotton is true. "The very best cotton in the world is grown in Egypt. So Egyptian cotton will be of a better quality," Joanna says. She also recommends pima cotton, which is grown in America, "though not quite as exceptional as Egyptian." When it comes to weaving, however, she swears by the Italians as being the "master weavers of the world" due to their "long tradition of weaving" and use of the best Egyptian cotton. Be sure the label says 100% or pure Egyptian cotton though, otherwise it may only contain a small percentage of the good stuff. As for the thread count, look for a minimum of 200. From there, it's all about preference!

What to avoid when buying sheetsJoanna's one key piece of advice is to watch out for extremely low priced, high thread count sheet sets. A complete sheet set with a high thread count for $100 or less is probably not the dream bargain you think it is. As Joanna believes, "you always get what you pay for." The price tag for bed linens will vary depending on the sheet size and what items you're buying, such as a duvet cover, sheet sets, or pillowcases. "A superior quality 200 thread count queen set (including flat, fitted, two pillowcases), made of Egyptian cotton and woven in Europe, could retail reasonably for about $150-$250," says Joanna.

What do you prefer?After going through the quality checklist, go with what feels best for you. If you're looking for a durable linen, Joanna recommends any percale from thread count 200 to 800. Percale is any cotton woven with a 200 thread count or higher and will be more durable than a cotton satin of the same thread count. It's also less likely to pill than cotton satin because it has a denser weave. Love the feel of a cotton button down shirt? Joanna advises a crisp, dense 200 thread count percale. Prefer a silkier sheet? Go for a 300 to 600 cotton satin. If you want lighter sheets, Joanna says, a 400 thread count sheet can be soft and light, while an 800 percale would be soft and dense. The higher the thread count, the more likely multiple-ply thread is used or picks are added, making the fabric denser and heavier.

Now you know that quality is not just about the number, so don't let numbers rule your bed! Remember what to look for on the label and be wary of too-low prices for supposedly high quality items. Beyond that, go with what you prefer. Get a good feel of the sheets before buying. Whether you're unzipping the packaging or lying down on a display bed, make sure the fabric feels good against your skin and soon you'll be having sweet dreams!

Organizing Ideas

10 things to do in December

With the holiday season is upon us, make the most of this month by tackling these tasks.

As the song says, it's the most wonderful time of the year – and it only lasts a few weeks. Avoid seasonal stress by staying organized and having realistic expectations of what you can achieve. To help you make the most of the holiday season, here are 10 things to do this December.

1 Clean out the freezer
It's all too easy to let food accumulate in the freezer – and before long, not only is it too crowded to make room for more, but there are items in the back that should probably be thrown away. Set aside some time to organize your freezer – you may be amazed at what you'll find in there.

2 Make a wreath
Not only is a wreath on the front door inviting, but it really makes a house look like a home. If you've got the time, add a personal touch to your outdoor decor by making your own instead of buying one. And if you're really feeling inspired, make two and give the second to a friend as an early Christmas gift.

3 Get organized for gift wrapping
To save time during the hectic Christmas shopping season, set up a gift-wrapping station in an out-of-the-way spot in your home -- it will make it easy to wrap gifts as you buy them, and you won't be hunting around the house for the scissors, silver ribbon or gift tags. If you haven't got the space for a separate gift-wrapping table, put all your supplies in a couple of wicker baskets in the closet or under the bed for easy access.

4 Decorate the kitchen
Don't limit your holiday accents to the living room and entryway -- think about ways you can bring the spirit of the season into every room, including the kitchen. Try decorating the windowsill with candles and cedar boughs, putting a miniature Christmas tree on a shelf or draping doorways with garlands. For a finishing touch, simmer spices in water on the back of the stove to infuse your home with the comforting scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

5 Cook up some appetizers
Get ready for guests – whether expected or impromptu – by preparing a selection of appetizers ahead of time. Just pick recipes that can be made in advance and frozen, and you could have a season's worth of hors d'oeuvres ready in an afternoon.

6 Host a cookie exchange
Rather than devoting hours of free time to baking each of your favourite holiday treats, arrange an exchange with friends and family. Organize it so that each person bakes a different type of cookie, enough to share around with everyone in the group. Don't forget to make a few extras to serve while everyone's exchanging the goods!

7 Hang some mistletoe
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is said to come from an ancient Scandinavian tradition that when enemies met in the forest under mistletoe, they were to lay down their arms and observe a truce for the following day. Continue the tradition by hanging mistletoe in your home during the holiday season – and spread peace and goodwill among your guests.

8 Donate to the food bank
During this season of feasting, remember those who are less fortunate by bringing non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to your local food bank. Consider offering your time, as well, to help sort donations or perform other necessary tasks.

9 Let in the fresh air
It may be getting chilly outside, but that's no reason to keep the windows locked tight. Shutting up the house lets indoor pollutants accumulate, especially if it's fairly new and therefore airtight. Let in the cool, crisp air of early winter by opening the windows for a few minutes daily – longer if the weather is cooperating – and enjoy the fresh scent of a well-aired home.

10 Make homemade eggnog
Eggnog is so rich and sinfully delicious, it's probably a good thing we don't drink it all year round. So don't settle for nog in a carton – it's easy to make your own, and the results are well worth the time spent.